Our object in ordering the men to fire slowly was, always to have thirty or forty rifles loaded, wherewith to receive the enemy should he attempt a charge en masse.  But our first greeting had been a sickener, and it appeared almost doubtful whether he would venture to attack us again, although the officers did every thing in their power to induce their men to advance.  For a long time, neither threats, entreaties, nor reproaches produced any effect.  We saw the officers gesticulating furiously, pointing to us with their sabres, and impatiently spurring their horses, till the fiery animals plunged and reared, and sprang with all four feet from the ground.  It is only just to say, that the officers exhibited a degree of courage far beyond any thing we had expected from them.  Of the two squadrons that charged us, two-thirds of the officers had fallen; but those who remained, instead of appearing intimidated by their comrades’ fate, redoubled their efforts to bring their men forward.

At last there appeared some probability of their accomplishing this, after a most curious and truly Mexican fashion.  Posting themselves in front of their squadrons, they rode on alone for a hundred yards or so, halted, looked round, as much as to say—­“You see there is no danger as far as this,” and then galloping back, led their men on.  Each time that they executed this manoeuvre, the dragoons would advance slowly some thirty or forty paces, and then halt as simultaneously as if the word of command had been given.  Off went the officers again, some distance to the front, and then back again to their men, and got them on a little further.  In this manner these heroes were inveigled once more to within a hundred and fifty yards of our position.

Of course, at each of the numerous halts which they made during their advance, they favoured us with a general, but most innocuous discharge of their carbines; and at last, gaining confidence, I suppose, from our passiveness, and from the noise and smoke they themselves had been making, three squadrons which had not yet been under fire, formed open column and advanced at a trot.  Without giving them time to halt or reflect—­“Forward!  Charge!” shouted the officers, urging their own horses to their utmost speed; and following the impulse thus given, the three squadrons came charging furiously along.

Up sprang thirty of our men to receive them.  Their orders were to fire slowly, and not throw away a shot, but the gleaming sabres and rapid approach of the dragoons flurried some of them, and firing a hasty volley, they jumped down the bank again.  This precipitation had nearly been fatal to us.  Several of the dragoons fell, and there was some confusion and a momentary faltering amongst the others; but they still came on.  At this critical moment, Wharton and myself, with the reserves, showed ourselves on the bank.  “Slow and sure-mark your men!” shouted we both.  Wharton on the right and I on